Empire’s Jsie Smollett Opens Up About Beg a Gay In | Vany Fair

Contents:

• 'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY
• ‘EMPIRE’ ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT REVEALS HE’S GAY ON ‘ELLEN’: ‘THERE IS NO CLOSET’
• "EMPIRE": COOKIE TELLS JAMAL TO "GET YOUR GAY BACK!""JT BEE I HAVE SEX WH TWO WOMEN MY ENTIRE LIFE DON'T MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M STRAIGHT OR BI, OR ANYTHG. "{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY DAN AVERYMARCH 31, 2016/5:45 PMBY DAN AVERYMARCH 31, 2016 / 5:45 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"EMPIRE\": COOKIE TELLS JAMAL TO \"GET YOUR GAY BACK!\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2016-03-31T21:45:43.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2016-03-31T21:45:43.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN EMPIRE WENT ON MID-SEASON HIAT LAST FALL, JAMAL HAD JT HOOKED UP WH HIS MIC IDOL, A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW THE SERI IS BACK, AND EVERYONE IS UP ARMS ABOUT THE MIC PRODIGY'S SEXUAL FLUIDY. ON THE SHOW, PROTTORS PLA THE MIDDLE LYON IS "FLIP-FLOPPG" ON HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN REAL LIFE, SOME VIEWERS AREN'T HAPPY EHER. "CAN THERE BE ONE SHOW WHERE THE GAY MAN DON'T END UP SLEEPG WH A WOMAN?" ASKED A NNN REAR. "I ASSUME THIS ENDS WH A BABY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON LAST NIGHT'S EPISO, "DEATH WILL HAVE HIS DAY," EVEN COOKIE HAS HER SAY ON THE ISSUE. JAMAL IS UP FOR AN ASA AWARD, AND COOKIE TRI TO GIVE HIM SOME POTERS ON WAGG A SUCCSFUL MPAIGN FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: YOU MSG AROUND WH GIRLS? PICK A DAMN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: I'M PICKG NOTHG. DO WHAT I WANT TO DO, AND A'T NOBODY'S BS WHO I GET DOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: SO WHAT DO THIS MEAN, HUH? YOU ONE OF THEM WISHY-WASHY, NFED BISEXUALS NOW?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: (LGHS) WHATEVER. NO. SEXUALY IS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: SHUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: MOM, IS, I'M SORRY. IT IS. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYG? YOU-YOU HAVE STRAIGHT AND-AND GAY AND BI AND A LOT A B OF EVERYTHG. I DON'T {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: YEAH, SOUND LIKE Y'ALL JT WANT TO BE EAKY-AKY. A LTLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: (LGHS) YOU A'T NEVER SLEPT WH NO WOMAN?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: BOY, NOBODY HAVG THAT NVERSATN WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: OH, REALLY? LOOK, ALL I'M SAYG IS THAT SOMETIM THGS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW? YOU FEEL A CERTA WAY AND YOU... YOU ACT ON OR YOU DON'T. JT BEE I HAVE SEX WH, UH, TWO WOMEN MY ENTIRE LIFE DON'T MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M STRAIGHT OR BI OR ANYTHG. I'M STILL A GAY BROTHER LOOKG FOR A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: (LGHS) YEAH, ME, TOO. ALL NIGHT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: OKAY, ALL RIGHT, SEE, YOU GOT TO TAKE TOO FAR. I'M OUT. I LIKE...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: SHUT UP, BOY. HOW YOU THK YOUR BIG-HEAD ASS GOT HERE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: IMMACULATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: LOOK, JAMAL, LISTEN TO ME. YOU NNOT PISS PEOPLE LIKE JAMION OFF IF YOU WANT TO W AN ASA AWARD, OKAY? AWARDS ARE LIKE POLICS, BABY. THK OF THIS LIKE A MPAIGN. YOU'RE NNG FOR OFFICE, ALL RIGHT? SO I NEED YOU TO GET YOUR HEAD BACK THE GAME AND GET YOUR GAY BACK AND GET THAT ASA AWARD! YOU NEED TO BEE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FROM MAMA COOKIE'S MOUTH TO GOD'S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• EMPIRE'S GAY SON IS THE SHOW'S GREATT ASSET
• MALIK YOBA NI OUTG 'EMPIRE' -STAR AS GAY
• EMPIRE’S JSIE SMOLLETT OPENS UP ABOUT BEG A GAY IN AND HIS COOKG SKILLS“DARLG, THERE'S NOTHG I NNOT MAKE. I MAKE THE BT MARONI AND CHEE THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR LIFE.”BY PL CHIMARCH 17, 2015BY NICHOLAS HUNT/SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEJSIE SMOLLETT—THE BREAKOUT SGER-ACTOR WHO PLAYS TERRENCE HOWARD AND TARAJI P. HENSON'S GAY SON JAMAL LYON ON THE SMASH FOX SERI EMPIRE—IS G QUE A STIR WH HIS SOULFUL AND TROSPECTIVE PERFORMANCE. NOT ONLY IS HE RECEIVG THUNRO PRAISE OM BOTH CRICS AND DIENC, BUT HE IS BEG LD FOR IMPACTG THE LIV OF MANY GAY VIEWERS.WE UGHT UP WH SMOLLETT, 31, AT THE NEW YORK PREMIERE OF THE DIVERGENT SERI: INSURGENT ON MONDAY, WHERE HE SPOKE NDIDLY ABOUT WHIRLWD LIFE. HERE ARE FIVE THGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHARMG AND MULTI-TALENTED PERFORMER.1. HE REALIZED HE WAS FAMO WHEN HE WENT TO THE MALL.“I RECENTLY WENT TO THE GROVE [AN OUTDOOR SHOPPG CENTER LOS ANGEL] AND LERALLY WAS A MOB SCENE,” HE SAID. “IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THAT PEOPLE REGNIZED ME. IT WAS KD OF CRAZY, BUT EVERYONE WHO HAS E UP HAS BEEN REALLY SWEET. THEY SAY THEY LOVE EMPIRE AND SOME SAY THEY ARE REALLY MOVED AND SPIRED BY THE SHOW. THAT FEELS HELLA GOOD!” SMOLLETT ALSO SHARED THAT HIS PORTRAYAL OF GAY MAN WHOSE FATHER N’T ACCEPT HIM HAS HELPED FANS WHO ARE STGGLG WH THEIR OWN PARENTS. “I RECEIVED A LETTER OM A KID THAT SAID JAMAL GAVE HIM THE URAGE TO E OUT TO HIS PARENTS. IT TOUCHED ME EPLY AND ’S AN HONOR TO HELP PEOPLE.”2. HIS STAT AS A SEX SYMBOL MAK HIM BLH.SMOLLETT'S HEARTFELT SGG AND ALLURG PERSONALY IS G HEART PALPATNS FOR MANY FANS AND HAS THSTED HIM TO HEARTTHROB TERRORY. BUT ALL THE SWOONG MAK HIM “QUIVER MY SOL,” HE SAID. “BUT ’S VERY SWEET AND I AM HUMBLED BY . I’M JT ENJOYG MY MOMENT ON EMPIRE AND JT TAKG ALL . I WAKE UP EVERY DAY THE SAME MAN JT WANTG TO WORK HARD AND DO THE BT WORK THAT I N DO.”3. HE HOP TO BE A POSIVE ROLE BEYOND THE LGBT MUNY.LAST WEEK SMOLETT PUBLICLY SPOKE ABOUT HIS SEXUALY FOR THE FIRST TIME AN TERVIEW WH ELLEN DEGENER. RATHER THAN FOCG ON THAT, THOUGH, THE STAR HOP TO E HIS NEW FAME TO SPIRE OTHERS TO BE HONT. “I FEEL A RPONSIBILY, BUT DO NOT FEEL PRSURE,” HE SAID WHEN ASKED ABOUT BEG A GAY MAN HOLLYWOOD. “THERE IS A RPONSIBILY FOR ME AS A MAN, AS A MAN OF LOR, AS AN ARTIST TO BE MYSELF AND MAKE THGS THAT REFLECT ME AND THAT ARE TE. THAT’S WHAT MATTERS. IT’S ABOUT ALL OF , NOT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE. I HOPE TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND THE WORLD AND AS A HUMAN BEG, THAT’S WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT I WANT TO DO.”4. HE SGS, DANC AND IS ALSO A MASTER CHEF.“I’M A VERY VG GUY AND I LIKE TO OK A LOT. MY MOM IS OM NEW ORLEANS, SO I FEEL LIKE I’M A SOUTHERN BOY AT HEART AND THERE'S ALWAYS OKG. YOU N ALWAYS E TO MY HOE AND I WILL OK FOR YOU.”WHAT’S HIS BT DISH? “DARLG, THERE'S NOTHG I NNOT MAKE,” HE SAID PROUDLY. “I MAKE THE BT MARONI AND CHEE THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR LIFE AND I MAKE A MEAN GUMBO. IT'S MEAN!”5. HIS GUILTY PLEASURE IS SGG SHOW TUN—PECIALLY OM THE SOUND OF MIC.“IT’S SO EMBARRASSG, BUT THE SONG I LOVE TO SG IS “SIXTEEN GOG ON SEVENTEEN” OM THE SOUND OF MIC,” SMOLLETT REVEALED. “I LOVE THAT ’S SO THEATRIL AND THE LYRICS ARE SO FUN. I N SG THE GUY’S PART AND I N SG THE GIRLS PART. I NEVER GET SICK OF .”THE DIVERGENT SERI: INSURGENT PREMIERE RED CARPET1 / 10CHEVRONCHEVRONBY NICHOLAS HUNT/OCTAVIA SPENCER AND JSIE SMOLLETTMOST POPULARSARA RAMIREZ ISSU STHG RPONSE TO ANTI–CHE DIAZ PROFILEBY SAVANNAH WALSHHOW MADONNA TURNED THE LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN SET INTO A THREE-RG CIRCBY ER CARLSON2023 FALL PREVIEW: 46 FILMS TO WATCH OUT FORBY REBEC FORDPL CHI
• IS BRE-Z FROM EMPIRE GAY?

'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY

Actor and sger Jsie Smollett is one of the breakout stars of Fox's h drama Empire, and while much of the buzz surroundg him has foced on his talents, there's also been plenty said about his the show, he plays Jamal Lyon, a gay sger and the middle son of Luc (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P.

Henson) battlg his father's real life, Smollett's sexualy has been a topic of nversatn, and now he's settg the rerd an terview wh Ellen DeGener nducted backstage at Ellen, he nfirmed that he is gay and explaed why he's never felt the need to discs his personal life.

"Until his nversatn wh DeGener, Smollett nsistently refed to discs his sexualy terviews, tellg Sway on his rad show a few weeks ago that fans shouldn't assume that he's gay. "The 31-year-old "Empire" star me out on "The Ellen DeGener Show" after his character om the h Fox seri revealed he's gay. "WITH A JUICY BLEND OF MUSIC, DRAMA AND OUTRAGEOUSNESS, 'EMPIRE' HAS BECOME THE BREAKOUT HIT OF 2015Jsie Smollett discs his role on ‘Empire’ and how he had to dn seven tim before landg the role of Jamal Lyon, who me out as gay a recent episo.

‘EMPIRE’ ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT REVEALS HE’S GAY ON ‘ELLEN’: ‘THERE IS NO CLOSET’

Smollett also revealed he's gay real life. "Followg the episo when his character me out, Smollett received hate onle, but didn't ter him om movg forward wh the storyle or revealg he's also gay real life. News flash: Empire's Jamal (Jsie Smollett) is gay.

But Empire never lets viewers fet that Jamal is gay, bee Jamal has que the active romantic Luc' Amnia Is Jt What the Show NeedJamal, and his thrivg sex life, is propaganda.

Empire -creator Lee Daniels has talked at length about Jamal beg a way to appease what he lled homophobic black dienc, and worked. Jamal tried to nvce Ryan to hi his sexualy om Luc too, leadg to a nversatn about growg up gay wh an Ain-Amerin father and livg the tth, yada yada yadda. On the one hand, the myth of the sneaky guy sleepg wh men but nyg to everyone backs the stctive msage that gay/bisexual people are untstworthy.

"EMPIRE": COOKIE TELLS JAMAL TO "GET YOUR GAY BACK!""JT BEE I HAVE SEX WH TWO WOMEN MY ENTIRE LIFE DON'T MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M STRAIGHT OR BI, OR ANYTHG. "{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY DAN AVERYMARCH 31, 2016/5:45 PMBY DAN AVERYMARCH 31, 2016 / 5:45 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"EMPIRE\": COOKIE TELLS JAMAL TO \"GET YOUR GAY BACK!\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2016-03-31T21:45:43.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2016-03-31T21:45:43.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN EMPIRE WENT ON MID-SEASON HIAT LAST FALL, JAMAL HAD JT HOOKED UP WH HIS MIC IDOL, A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW THE SERI IS BACK, AND EVERYONE IS UP ARMS ABOUT THE MIC PRODIGY'S SEXUAL FLUIDY. ON THE SHOW, PROTTORS PLA THE MIDDLE LYON IS "FLIP-FLOPPG" ON HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN REAL LIFE, SOME VIEWERS AREN'T HAPPY EHER. "CAN THERE BE ONE SHOW WHERE THE GAY MAN DON'T END UP SLEEPG WH A WOMAN?" ASKED A NNN REAR. "I ASSUME THIS ENDS WH A BABY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON LAST NIGHT'S EPISO, "DEATH WILL HAVE HIS DAY," EVEN COOKIE HAS HER SAY ON THE ISSUE. JAMAL IS UP FOR AN ASA AWARD, AND COOKIE TRI TO GIVE HIM SOME POTERS ON WAGG A SUCCSFUL MPAIGN FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: YOU MSG AROUND WH GIRLS? PICK A DAMN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: I'M PICKG NOTHG. DO WHAT I WANT TO DO, AND A'T NOBODY'S BS WHO I GET DOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: SO WHAT DO THIS MEAN, HUH? YOU ONE OF THEM WISHY-WASHY, NFED BISEXUALS NOW?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: (LGHS) WHATEVER. NO. SEXUALY IS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: SHUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: MOM, IS, I'M SORRY. IT IS. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYG? YOU-YOU HAVE STRAIGHT AND-AND GAY AND BI AND A LOT A B OF EVERYTHG. I DON'T {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: YEAH, SOUND LIKE Y'ALL JT WANT TO BE EAKY-AKY. A LTLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: (LGHS) YOU A'T NEVER SLEPT WH NO WOMAN?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: BOY, NOBODY HAVG THAT NVERSATN WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: OH, REALLY? LOOK, ALL I'M SAYG IS THAT SOMETIM THGS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW? YOU FEEL A CERTA WAY AND YOU... YOU ACT ON OR YOU DON'T. JT BEE I HAVE SEX WH, UH, TWO WOMEN MY ENTIRE LIFE DON'T MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M STRAIGHT OR BI OR ANYTHG. I'M STILL A GAY BROTHER LOOKG FOR A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: (LGHS) YEAH, ME, TOO. ALL NIGHT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: OKAY, ALL RIGHT, SEE, YOU GOT TO TAKE TOO FAR. I'M OUT. I LIKE...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: SHUT UP, BOY. HOW YOU THK YOUR BIG-HEAD ASS GOT HERE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL: IMMACULATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COOKIE: LOOK, JAMAL, LISTEN TO ME. YOU NNOT PISS PEOPLE LIKE JAMION OFF IF YOU WANT TO W AN ASA AWARD, OKAY? AWARDS ARE LIKE POLICS, BABY. THK OF THIS LIKE A MPAIGN. YOU'RE NNG FOR OFFICE, ALL RIGHT? SO I NEED YOU TO GET YOUR HEAD BACK THE GAME AND GET YOUR GAY BACK AND GET THAT ASA AWARD! YOU NEED TO BEE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FROM MAMA COOKIE'S MOUTH TO GOD'S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

However, Jamal, revealed to be gay, doubts that he will be chosen prr to their relatnship and the Ain-Amerin homophobia the muny.

However, while Luc ntu to ny Cookie's requt, bee of Jamal's "different dience, " Jamal is nflicted when Cookie assembl a prs nference for g out as a gay artist. As a gay man, Jamal is aware of the homophobia Ain-Amerin muni. Although Luc saw beyond Jamal's homosexualy namg him his succsor to head Empire, Luc' reactn to Jamal and Skye hookg up reveals that the former CEO of Empire still has a substantial amount of work to do.

At dner Ryan and Jamal discs how difficult is growg up gay wh an Ain Amerin father. Jamal tells Luc that he is still gay, yet Luc don't believe him. "Can there be one show where the gay man don't end up sleepg wh a woman?

EMPIRE'S GAY SON IS THE SHOW'S GREATT ASSET

You-you have straight and-and gay and bi and a lot a b of everythg.

MALIK YOBA NI OUTG 'EMPIRE' -STAR AS GAY

I'm still a gay brother lookg for a (Lghs) Yeah, me, too.

So I need you to get your head back the game and get your gay back and get that Asa Award! Pl, their marriage at the end of Season 5 broke ground as primetime's first gay black weddg. Rather than jt flailg agast his father's homophobia and retreatg to the fort of his keyboard, Jamal summoned his anger to a missn statement: He pledged to take over his father's pany.

EMPIRE’S JSIE SMOLLETT OPENS UP ABOUT BEG A GAY IN AND HIS COOKG SKILLS“DARLG, THERE'S NOTHG I NNOT MAKE. I MAKE THE BT MARONI AND CHEE THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR LIFE.”BY PL CHIMARCH 17, 2015BY NICHOLAS HUNT/SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEJSIE SMOLLETT—THE BREAKOUT SGER-ACTOR WHO PLAYS TERRENCE HOWARD AND TARAJI P. HENSON'S GAY SON JAMAL LYON ON THE SMASH FOX SERI EMPIRE—IS G QUE A STIR WH HIS SOULFUL AND TROSPECTIVE PERFORMANCE. NOT ONLY IS HE RECEIVG THUNRO PRAISE OM BOTH CRICS AND DIENC, BUT HE IS BEG LD FOR IMPACTG THE LIV OF MANY GAY VIEWERS.WE UGHT UP WH SMOLLETT, 31, AT THE NEW YORK PREMIERE OF THE DIVERGENT SERI: INSURGENT ON MONDAY, WHERE HE SPOKE NDIDLY ABOUT WHIRLWD LIFE. HERE ARE FIVE THGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHARMG AND MULTI-TALENTED PERFORMER.1. HE REALIZED HE WAS FAMO WHEN HE WENT TO THE MALL.“I RECENTLY WENT TO THE GROVE [AN OUTDOOR SHOPPG CENTER LOS ANGEL] AND LERALLY WAS A MOB SCENE,” HE SAID. “IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THAT PEOPLE REGNIZED ME. IT WAS KD OF CRAZY, BUT EVERYONE WHO HAS E UP HAS BEEN REALLY SWEET. THEY SAY THEY LOVE EMPIRE AND SOME SAY THEY ARE REALLY MOVED AND SPIRED BY THE SHOW. THAT FEELS HELLA GOOD!” SMOLLETT ALSO SHARED THAT HIS PORTRAYAL OF GAY MAN WHOSE FATHER N’T ACCEPT HIM HAS HELPED FANS WHO ARE STGGLG WH THEIR OWN PARENTS. “I RECEIVED A LETTER OM A KID THAT SAID JAMAL GAVE HIM THE URAGE TO E OUT TO HIS PARENTS. IT TOUCHED ME EPLY AND ’S AN HONOR TO HELP PEOPLE.”2. HIS STAT AS A SEX SYMBOL MAK HIM BLH.SMOLLETT'S HEARTFELT SGG AND ALLURG PERSONALY IS G HEART PALPATNS FOR MANY FANS AND HAS THSTED HIM TO HEARTTHROB TERRORY. BUT ALL THE SWOONG MAK HIM “QUIVER MY SOL,” HE SAID. “BUT ’S VERY SWEET AND I AM HUMBLED BY . I’M JT ENJOYG MY MOMENT ON EMPIRE AND JT TAKG ALL . I WAKE UP EVERY DAY THE SAME MAN JT WANTG TO WORK HARD AND DO THE BT WORK THAT I N DO.”3. HE HOP TO BE A POSIVE ROLE BEYOND THE LGBT MUNY.LAST WEEK SMOLETT PUBLICLY SPOKE ABOUT HIS SEXUALY FOR THE FIRST TIME AN TERVIEW WH ELLEN DEGENER. RATHER THAN FOCG ON THAT, THOUGH, THE STAR HOP TO E HIS NEW FAME TO SPIRE OTHERS TO BE HONT. “I FEEL A RPONSIBILY, BUT DO NOT FEEL PRSURE,” HE SAID WHEN ASKED ABOUT BEG A GAY MAN HOLLYWOOD. “THERE IS A RPONSIBILY FOR ME AS A MAN, AS A MAN OF LOR, AS AN ARTIST TO BE MYSELF AND MAKE THGS THAT REFLECT ME AND THAT ARE TE. THAT’S WHAT MATTERS. IT’S ABOUT ALL OF , NOT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE. I HOPE TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND THE WORLD AND AS A HUMAN BEG, THAT’S WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT I WANT TO DO.”4. HE SGS, DANC AND IS ALSO A MASTER CHEF.“I’M A VERY VG GUY AND I LIKE TO OK A LOT. MY MOM IS OM NEW ORLEANS, SO I FEEL LIKE I’M A SOUTHERN BOY AT HEART AND THERE'S ALWAYS OKG. YOU N ALWAYS E TO MY HOE AND I WILL OK FOR YOU.”WHAT’S HIS BT DISH? “DARLG, THERE'S NOTHG I NNOT MAKE,” HE SAID PROUDLY. “I MAKE THE BT MARONI AND CHEE THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR LIFE AND I MAKE A MEAN GUMBO. IT'S MEAN!”5. HIS GUILTY PLEASURE IS SGG SHOW TUN—PECIALLY OM THE SOUND OF MIC.“IT’S SO EMBARRASSG, BUT THE SONG I LOVE TO SG IS “SIXTEEN GOG ON SEVENTEEN” OM THE SOUND OF MIC,” SMOLLETT REVEALED. “I LOVE THAT ’S SO THEATRIL AND THE LYRICS ARE SO FUN. I N SG THE GUY’S PART AND I N SG THE GIRLS PART. I NEVER GET SICK OF .”THE DIVERGENT SERI: INSURGENT PREMIERE RED CARPET1 / 10CHEVRONCHEVRONBY NICHOLAS HUNT/OCTAVIA SPENCER AND JSIE SMOLLETTMOST POPULARSARA RAMIREZ ISSU STHG RPONSE TO ANTI–CHE DIAZ PROFILEBY SAVANNAH WALSHHOW MADONNA TURNED THE LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN SET INTO A THREE-RG CIRCBY ER CARLSON2023 FALL PREVIEW: 46 FILMS TO WATCH OUT FORBY REBEC FORDPL CHI

First, and I fear we've unrsold this our last two reps, how spectacular is that a work TV show picts not only a gay man of lor, but a gay man of lor the hetero-domated world of hip-hop?

Lee Daniels and his team may have unrled Luc's homophobia too hard so far, havg him nsistently refer to Jamal as female and sist homosexualy is a choice egregly bluntly, but 's probably (and sadly) realistic—and mak Jamal's assertn that he is a gay man, emphasis on both of those scriptors, all the more valuable.

IS BRE-Z FROM EMPIRE GAY?

One of Empire’s most proment storyl, and most atttg to s ‘pave the way’ stat, revolv around Jamal Lyon — played by openly gay Jsie Smollett.

As a young boy he steps to a room wearg heels and a headsrf to naively show off to his parents; Luc rponds homophobic slurs and stuffs his son a trash n while a distrsed Cookie tri to tervene. Oftentim, a lot of the people are homophobic, I feel. In the hip hop muny pecially, save for succs stori like Frank Ocean’s, homosexualy isn’t known to sell hip hop rerds.

Here’s to a black gay man playg a lead on FOX’s most-watched show years.